Published: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 11:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 11:30 a.m.

Former residents of MacDonell United Methodist Children's Services, a Houma-based charity that houses needy children, are determined to support the home as state budget cuts begin to take their toll.

Paul Wayne, 47, a Houma native who wrote the book “Unremembered Wings,” inspired by his time at the charity home, started Project Wings, an organization dedicated to supporting MacDonell's services.

The group, comprised of former MacDonell residents, aims to put on reoccurring fundraisers in the Houma area to benefit the shelter.

“MacDonell has been a resource for the children of Louisiana for many, many years,” Wayne said. “Now it's our mission to return the kindness and the caring MacDonell House has given us.”

Henrietta Percle, 49, a Houma native who was placed at MacDonell when she was 12 after her mother died, said she's grateful for the support she received.

“Foster care did not work out for me,” she said. “I needed more. I built up a wall up. I was emotionally traumatized.”

Percle is now a wife and a mother of three. She lives in Lafayette, where works as a medical assistant at a cardiology practice.

Percle said the group is gearing up to try and bring “support that they can depend on, especially while their enduring these cutbacks.”

The first fundraiser will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 20 at the Bayou Blue Recreation Center. The proceeds will benefit the children's home.

The group also plans to host a 5k walk sometime next year.

MacDonell was founded as a French Mission in 1919 by Ella K. Hooper and Laura White, Methodist Espicopal Church South deaconesses.

MacDonell now operates as a home for children 11-17 who have endured abuse and are undergoing treatment for emotional and behavioral disorders.

The 17-acre campus at the confluence of Bayou Terrebonne and the Intracoastal Waterway, between the Twin Spans and Grand Caillou Road, has park-like grounds with buildings dating to the early 20th century.

Its roots are in the Methodist Church, and the property is owned by the United Methodist Women. However, the program, which includes security, counseling and tutorial services on top of basic living needs, is largely state funded. All other financial support comes from a combination of charitable groups, local congregations and in-kind leases.

But recent budget cuts to the charity house, which has been serving Houma for 94 years, have led to limited beds.

Designed to house at least 36 children, MacDonell now houses 10.

MacDonell is approved to have 16 beds under the existing state plan.

Like most state operations that provide health services, MacDonell is compensated through the Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership operated by the private insurance company Magellan, which offers fewer dollars than in years prior.

Additionally, Magellan has reduced the $135 per resident per day the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services had paid before to $126.

Trey Williams, spokesman for the state Department of Children and Family Services, said the reason MacDonell's budget has been decreased is because it doesn't provide intense enough medical services.

“We pay them for the services they provide, which is room and board,” Williams said.

Treatment services are provided by outside providers and funded by Medicaid through Magellan.

Williams said the agency encourages charities like MacDonell to become a medical group home, which receive more money.

“Through therapeutic group homes, which are new to Louisiana, Medicaid pays for the treatment portion and the state agency funds the room and board,” said Lisa Faust, Magellan Behavioral Health chief of staff. “Children with that level of need can be better served in a therapeutic environment.”

At MacDonell, children receive counseling from a licensed social worker or psychologist. But the state's new behavioral-health transition requires a psychiatrist, which is more costly.

“It's a great idea,” Guidroz said. “The state wants to develop these therapeutic group homes. But out of all the facilities in the state, which is more than I can count on four hands, only one has been able to make that transition because the state is not providing the startup money.”

Williams said there are no plans by the state to adjust current room and board payments.

Typically, the children at MacDonell have been taken from abusive homes by the court system. Primarily, the kids have some serious behavioral problems that make them unacceptable candidates for traditional foster care.

“We don't cure them here over night,” Guidroz said. “But many have been adopted, and some have gone back to their family. We just want to get them on a path where they have learned to care for themselves and can live independently.”

If MacDonell can't resolve its budget shortfalls, Guidroz estimates it can manage another two years.

Still, Guidroz said the situation needs immediate improvement.

“We want the funding that would allow us to continue and thrive,” he said. “There are hundreds of children out there that need these kinds of services. We get calls every day. A lot of them we can't take, but they're still calling and telling us that they can't find a bed anywhere in the state.”

<p>Former residents of MacDonell United Methodist Children's Services, a Houma-based charity that houses needy children, are determined to support the home as state budget cuts begin to take their toll. </p><p>Paul Wayne, 47, a Houma native who wrote the book “Unremembered Wings,” inspired by his time at the charity home, started Project Wings, an organization dedicated to supporting MacDonell's services. </p><p>The group, comprised of former MacDonell residents, aims to put on reoccurring fundraisers in the Houma area to benefit the shelter. </p><p>“MacDonell has been a resource for the children of Louisiana for many, many years,” Wayne said. “Now it's our mission to return the kindness and the caring MacDonell House has given us.” </p><p>Henrietta Percle, 49, a Houma native who was placed at MacDonell when she was 12 after her mother died, said she's grateful for the support she received. </p><p>“Foster care did not work out for me,” she said. “I needed more. I built up a wall up. I was emotionally traumatized.”</p><p>Percle is now a wife and a mother of three. She lives in Lafayette, where works as a medical assistant at a cardiology practice.</p><p>Percle said the group is gearing up to try and bring “support that they can depend on, especially while their enduring these cutbacks.”</p><p>The first fundraiser will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 20 at the Bayou Blue Recreation Center. The proceeds will benefit the children's home. </p><p>The group also plans to host a 5k walk sometime next year. </p><p>MacDonell was founded as a French Mission in 1919 by Ella K. Hooper and Laura White, Methodist Espicopal Church South deaconesses. </p><p>MacDonell now operates as a home for children 11-17 who have endured abuse and are undergoing treatment for emotional and behavioral disorders.</p><p>The 17-acre campus at the confluence of Bayou Terrebonne and the Intracoastal Waterway, between the Twin Spans and Grand Caillou Road, has park-like grounds with buildings dating to the early 20th century. </p><p>Its roots are in the Methodist Church, and the property is owned by the United Methodist Women. However, the program, which includes security, counseling and tutorial services on top of basic living needs, is largely state funded. All other financial support comes from a combination of charitable groups, local congregations and in-kind leases. </p><p>But recent budget cuts to the charity house, which has been serving Houma for 94 years, have led to limited beds.</p><p>Designed to house at least 36 children, MacDonell now houses 10.</p><p>MacDonell is approved to have 16 beds under the existing state plan.</p><p>Like most state operations that provide health services, MacDonell is compensated through the Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership operated by the private insurance company Magellan, which offers fewer dollars than in years prior.</p><p>Additionally, Magellan has reduced the $135 per resident per day the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services had paid before to $126.</p><p>Trey Williams, spokesman for the state Department of Children and Family Services, said the reason MacDonell's budget has been decreased is because it doesn't provide intense enough medical services.</p><p>“We pay them for the services they provide, which is room and board,” Williams said.</p><p>Treatment services are provided by outside providers and funded by Medicaid through Magellan.</p><p>Williams said the agency encourages charities like MacDonell to become a medical group home, which receive more money. </p><p>“Through therapeutic group homes, which are new to Louisiana, Medicaid pays for the treatment portion and the state agency funds the room and board,” said Lisa Faust, Magellan Behavioral Health chief of staff. “Children with that level of need can be better served in a therapeutic environment.”</p><p>At MacDonell, children receive counseling from a licensed social worker or psychologist. But the state's new behavioral-health transition requires a psychiatrist, which is more costly.</p><p>“It's a great idea,” Guidroz said. “The state wants to develop these therapeutic group homes. But out of all the facilities in the state, which is more than I can count on four hands, only one has been able to make that transition because the state is not providing the startup money.”</p><p>Williams said there are no plans by the state to adjust current room and board payments.</p><p>Typically, the children at MacDonell have been taken from abusive homes by the court system. Primarily, the kids have some serious behavioral problems that make them unacceptable candidates for traditional foster care. </p><p>“We don't cure them here over night,” Guidroz said. “But many have been adopted, and some have gone back to their family. We just want to get them on a path where they have learned to care for themselves and can live independently.”</p><p>If MacDonell can't resolve its budget shortfalls, Guidroz estimates it can manage another two years. </p><p>Still, Guidroz said the situation needs immediate improvement.</p><p>“We want the funding that would allow us to continue and thrive,” he said. “There are hundreds of children out there that need these kinds of services. We get calls every day. A lot of them we can't take, but they're still calling and telling us that they can't find a bed anywhere in the state.”</p>